Live Updates: Day 4 of former school trustee's free speech battle over gender Ideology
Today, James Kitchen, counsel for Barry Neufeld, who has been accused of spreading “online hate” for his critical stance on gender ideology and SOGI 123 in schools, is expected to cross-examine teachers testifying against him.
Today marks day four of the “British Columbia Teachers’ Federation obo Chilliwack Teachers’ Association v. Barry Neufeld” case, taking place in the quasi-judicial B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.
The battle over the freedom of speech to critique gender ideology being taught in schools began seven years ago when the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) filed a Section 7 human rights complaint against Neufeld, who was serving as a Chilliwack school board trustee at the time.
The complaint alleges that Neufeld’s critical public speech against radical gender ideology and the province's controversial Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI 123) program amounts to "hate speech" that likely exposed individuals to discrimination or hatred online.
Earlier this week, Neufeld’s lawyer, James Kitchen, cross-examined Glen Hansman, a former BCTF president, and criticized the tribunal for restricting public access to anyone who had not previously-requested a week in advance, an action that sparked backlash from free speech advocates. The tribunal has since appeared to backpedal on this decision.
SOGI & FREE SPEECH: The ‘online hate speech’ hearing for Barry Neufeld, the former Chilliwack school trustee who courageously spoke out against gender ideology in schools, began with some of the public being shut out. 👇🏾https://t.co/RtDbyw5aOg
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
Today, Kitchen is expected to cross-examine the first of at least three teachers set to testify on behalf of the BCTF. Due to a publication ban, identifying details about teacher witnesses cannot be disclosed.
For real-time updates on today’s proceedings, follow Rebel News' Drea Humphrey as she live-tweets the hearing on X:
TB: is still continuing to lose focus often and trails off half way through her answers before asking for the s question to be repeated.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
TB: I felt more. It was more open in in previous years… I did actually notice
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
quite a big difference once these things were said out loud, because.
It just gave a model for other people to say these things, including teachers.
*I’ll refer to the BCTF lawyer as just, BCTF moving forward
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
BCTF “Can you tell us about whether or not there were any differences in work culture between your first
experience in [city redacted] in around [year redacted] and returning in around [year redacted]
TB: My admin actually said that
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
she would like go through all my emails and make sure there was no more emails like that. And I was
like, oh no, it's fine. I'll just send it away if it happens aAgain.
BCTF lawyer: Has it happened again since then?
TB: No.
After reporting the email [I can’t see the email] to the union
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
TB says she attended a meeting about how to keep her safe.
TB: Says she told the union about the above right away.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
TB says she is part of the LGBTQ+ community, I’ll omit which acronym she identifies with and just substitute such with “LGBTQ”
TB: I just, it never occurred to me that people could take a fun activity with prizes in such a way to to call me a groomer.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
Using my own name, calling me an abuser for giving out prizes for trivia.
BCTF lawyer: Did you receive any other comments from other people about this poster afterwards?
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
TB: I had emails come in.
Says more people called her a groomer.
TB claims that the poster which a parent took a photo of was later published on [redacted].
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
And following that she claims Neufeld used her name and “and said specifically that I was a groomer.”
14)
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
TB: the goal of that was just to get kids interested in learning about different things and what the acronym means and things … and the goal of that was just to get kids interested.
14) TB claims the criticism came after a parent took a photo of a poster with her name on it, which she used to promote her Ally Day event. TB has been a leader in creating such events. Below is an example of SOGI-encouraged allyship. https://t.co/U7NlXjZCEQ
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
13) For example: TB would host an “ally day” for students and BCTF counsel asks TB to discuss some of the criticisms she faced for such teaching.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
12) TB's responses to simple questions about her memory of some of Neufeld’s comments or parents’ reactions to SOGI resources are often marked by long pauses, a shaky voice, and claims of forgetting the question she was just asked.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
She sounds consumed by fear and confusion.
11) Counsel for the BCTF has posed questions to Teacher B (TB) who sounds like they need some serious help, respectfully.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
10) Due to a publication ban in place that prohibits revealing certain identifying characteristics of these teachers, I will refer to them as Teacher A (TA), Teacher B (TB), and Teacher C (TC). Additionally, updates will be selected carefully to comply with the ban.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
9) Today, at least one of the three teachers who will be testifying against Neufeld will give testimony and be cross-examined by Neufeld’s counsel, James Kitchen.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
https://t.co/F7RAf2XR80
8) As it stands now, those who wish to attend can apply to do so via phone only, with no visuals, and the timing for which they may be approved entry is unclear. https://t.co/EyEKgyztqn
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
7) Back to Barry:
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
This hearing began on Monday and the tribunal faced backlash for how difficult it was for the public to gain access.
You can learn about that as well as some highlights on what occurred earlier this week below. https://t.co/RtDbyw5aOg
6) Our complaint is brought on by Jessica Simpson (formerly Jonathan Yaniv), a violent, racist predatory human who resents our reports that have exposed “her” as such. https://t.co/1JiaCOJIpM
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
5) Some of you may recall that Rebel News is also facing a Section 7 complaint, and we could use your help defending ourselves against it. Join us in advocating for the repeal of the censorship provision.https://t.co/mGmatRUJkx
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
4) The BCTF slapped Neufeld with a Section 7 “hate speech” Human Rights complaint alleging that his public criticisms are discriminatory and “likely to” incite hatred against protected groups.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
More background: https://t.co/YCfSoZLMGa
3)Neufeld has been a bold critic of radical gender ideology and B.C.’s SOGI 123 program for many years. Drawing on his experience as a foster child, his work with troubled youth, and his service as a trustee, he has raised concerns about these issues and paid a price for doing so https://t.co/L7cyOfkJj4
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
2) It’s day 4 of the case:
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
British Columbia Teachers Federation obo Chilliwack Teachers Association v. Barry Neufeld case which is being heard in the BC Human Rights Tribunal.
1) LIVE TWEETS: Today, I’ll provide live updates a key free speech case about public servants' rights to represent parents' concerns over gender ideology and SOGI 123 in schools without fear of legal action.
— Drea Humphrey - Prepping and Politics (@DreaHumphrey) November 28, 2024
PHOTO: Barry Neufeld, former Chilliwack school trustee pic.twitter.com/BJpE0cgNe2
Drea Humphrey
B.C. Bureau Chief
Based in British Columbia, Drea Humphrey reports on Western Canada for Rebel News. Drea’s reporting is not afraid to challenge political correctness, or ask the tough questions that mainstream media tends to avoid.
